Warm Bacon & Kale Salad

I think I can get you to eat kale with this recipe...after all, you can't often go wrong with bacon.

Ingredients:

Approximately 6 strips of good quality bacon, cut into bite-sized chunks

1 bunch of kale, washed, destemmed and torn/cut into bite-sized pieces

½ bell pepper (any kind, but red/yellow/orange would add colour), chopped

8 medium-sized button mushrooms, thinly sliced

½ small white onion, chopped

½ tsp black pepper

2-4 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Cook the cut bacon in a large frying pan. Remove from the pan when the bacon is cooked to the desired tenderness. Turn heat down to low.

2. Add the kale to the pan, right into the grease from the bacon. Stir often to prevent the kale from burning. Add 1-2 tbsp (depends on how greasy your bacon is) of olive oil to help the kale to cook down. Remove once the kale is softened (about 5-7 minutes).

3. Warm 1 tbsp butter and 1-2 tbsp olive oil in the pan. Add peppers, mushrooms, onion, and black pepper. Cook until tender.

4. Add the kale and bacon back into the pan to warm and mix all together.

5. Eat as a warm salad or as a side dish. If you’re having this for breakfast, eggs complement this dish well. Consider sprinkling with goat cheese or parmesan cheese for extra goodness.

Big Note: Keep in mind that bacon has been designated as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). That being said, look for bacon that is uncured (free of nitrites and nitrates) and that has been pasture fed (not just corn and soy). Centre cuts tend to be less fatty (although, fat isn't bad - we just don't want too much of the saturated kind) and only consume in moderation (try for no more than 4 strips weekly...unless you're on a ketogenic diet).

#recipe #bacon #kale #healthy #salad #warm #mushrooms